A Tasmanian parliamentary committee has found significant financial, geographic, and social barriers are negatively impacting women’s access to quality healthcare across the state. The House of Assembly Select Committee on Reproductive, Maternal and Paediatric Health Services tabled its final report on 3 March 2026, confirming many of the concerns raised in harrowing testimonies from Tasmanian women.
The inquiry was established to investigate the adequacy of health services, prompted by stories of birth trauma, as reported by ABC News. The committee, chaired by Labor MP Ella Haddad, heard evidence on a wide range of issues including access to contraception, fertility services, and maternal care.
According to the final report, the committee found there is a lack of qualified physicians in Tasmania who can insert long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs). It also identified limited availability of reproductive and fertility services, with no publicly funded IVF services in the state. The report noted that the two private IVF clinics are both located in southern Tasmania, creating a significant barrier for those in the North and North West.
The inquiry also examined maternal healthcare, with submissions detailing traumatic birth experiences. A submission from the Australian College of Midwives cited a study showing as many as one in three women report some form of trauma associated with their birth. The parliamentary committee itself acknowledged that the evidence received discussed “highly sensitive matters and themes that have deeply impacted the lives of Tasmanians”.
Among its findings, the committee confirmed that while terminations are legally available, “significant barriers to access exist”. These include a lack of awareness of available services and a lack of regional options.
The committee’s work is separate from a specific investigation into maternity services at the Royal Hobart Hospital, which released its own report in January 2025 and made 38 recommendations for improvement.
The full report from the Select Committee on Reproductive, Maternal and Paediatric Health Services is available on the Parliament of Tasmania website. The original ABC News story that highlighted the inquiry can be found on their website.